In Luxembourg City there is a definite contrast between the historic and the ultra-modern. Our hotel, the Novotel, is located in the super-modern section where there is a lot of new construction.

After being in the Netherlands and not being able to read the signs I am feeling a lot more comfortable here in Luxembourg because most of the signs are in French. Luxembourg has three official languages: Luxembourgish, German and French. In elementary school, children are taught in Luxembourgish; they are taught in German in middle school; and studies are in French in high school. When they graduate from high school, they are then skilled in three languages.

Our local guide, Steve, was an Englishman who has lived forty years in Luxembourg. He was a treasure trove of information about World War II where we spent the morning at the American Cemetery. It is here that Americans are buried following the Battle of the Bulge. What I was amazed at was how immaculate the grounds were kept, especially the perfect green grass. General Patton is buried here, having been killed in a vehicle accident on Dec. 21, 1945.

We had a short tour of Luxembourg City including the exterior of Luxembourg Cathedral and a Prussian Lutheran Church. Unfortunately we were not given enough time to visit the interiors, so I did some shopping of Luxembourg T-shirts.

We then drove to the ancient town of Trier just across the German border which was founded by the Romans—the oldest city in Germany.

I am happy that I was able to go inside a former Roman basilica (now a Lutheran church) where there is a new organ from 2012. How I wish I could have been able to play it!

I also visited the Trier Cathedral and took a photo of the beautiful organ case there as well as the ornate ceiling.

It’s time to pack up my suitcase again as we leave Luxembourg for Brussels tomorrow. Unfortunately my suitcase is getting harder and harder to close because of all the souvenirs I’m buying!